This reasoning assumes you have access to infinite runway. You don't.
I mentioned acres of land. You normally don't have multiple acres of land in the suburbs.
> is it possible to buy a reasonably nice home located in a reasonably nice amerikkkan city… for $300k in 2026?
Who wants acreage? We want homes.
What does "city" mean to you? For some, it's 500 people, or 5,000. For some, it's 5 million. Define that first. The US is a big place, and I know people that don't live within 50 miles of another human.
Otherwise:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/424-Olive-St-Kansas-City-...
4 bed, 3 bath, 1,580 sq ft, beautiful! $342,500, built in 1900.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3508-N-College-Ave-Kansas...
4 bed, 4 bath, 2,295 sq ft, $365,000, built in 2022.
You'd be surprised how much house and land you can get for that price.
Yeah that sounds cruel and messed up, because it is. I don’t like how expensive real estate is and I wish we could have another 2008 without a bailout. But the point stands. If you hafta pick between eating and paying your mortgage, you made a bad financial decision. Blame whoever you want, I am of the opinion that people still have agency and are responsible for their decisions, as unpopular as that seems to be these days.
So you could afford 200/month more, but they won’t lend it to you if your max mortgage is 300 and not 350.
Acknowledging this isn’t always easy or possible, but just pointing out that this is a self reinforcing problem.
I meant desirable for me to live there, not as an investment. Who wants to buy a home in place they don't want to live?
Tons in the $200s btw, and this is in the city less than 20 minutes from the Nelson-Atkins Museum, WW I museum, the river, farmers market, KC Chiefs / Royals / Sporting KC / KC Current teams, parks, schools, newly rebuilt international airport, etc.
[0] https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3711-N-67t...
[1] https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/20118-E-Tr...
That said, look around:
https://www.zillow.com/kansas-city-mo/?category=SEMANTIC&sea...
Between $175k and $350k center on KCMO alone there are over 760 results.
Note: your first link https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3711-N-67t... is 23 minutes from the WW I museum.
Note 2: Your second link is way out in Independence, MO but is still only 29 minutes away from the WW I museum.
First if you us the convention center, you place the housing center off of where most of the housing actually is.
Between $175k and $350k center on KCMO alone there are over 760 results.
I realize multiple acres of land is a bit of a silly requirement, but you're the one who suggested there are tons of houses with "several acres within 20 minute drive to a lot of US city downtown areas". That's why I was surprised.
This is my direct quote.
Let me break this down:
1. That would buy you thousands of square feet
True, clearly seen in the search results.
2. and often several acres
True, you just filtered down to several results currently on the market.
> I realize multiple acres of land is a bit of a silly requirement
Why? I live slightly further than 20min outside of town. There are massive, beautiful homes with tons of land out here, and tons have gigabit fiber from GFiber or several of the other providers in the area.
But that's not a requirement if you don't want it to be! There are clearly tons of homes available in the city with 3-4+ bedrooms and 2+ bathrooms in the $200 and $300ks is the point.